"Aren't you overlooking the bigger point? He stated he saw Erin's car, checked the tires, did not see Erin, and left." I've never understood the term used here: "checked the tires." I've never checked anyone else's tires except for wondering about chalk marks on a vehicle left in one spot too long (in a metro city, not in the high desert.)
I can only assume he meant he was checking for a flat tire? Not that I think he ever really stopped and checked the car other than to pick up Erin for their rendezvous.